California Farm bureau re-elects Wenger

In a unanimous vote of delegates at the California Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting, CFBF President Paul Wenger was re-elected today to a new term in office. The election occurred at the end of the 95th CFBF Annual Meeting, held in Monterey.

Wenger begins his third two-year term as the 15th president of the California Farm Bureau Federation. A walnut and almond grower from Modesto, he has been a statewide officer of the organization since 1997, when he was elected second vice president. He was elected first vice president in 2005 and president in 2009.

"I can't think of anything more humbling than to work for people that I respect like I respect all of you," Wenger told Farm Bureau delegates following his re-election. "We'll make sure to double down and over the next two years do as much as we can to support, protect and promote this great industry and all of you."

CFBF delegates also re-elected First Vice President Kenny Watkins and Second Vice President Jamie Johansson to third terms in their offices.

Watkins raises beef cattle, walnuts and hay in Linden. He has been CFBF first vice president since 2009 and had previously served two terms as second vice president, beginning in 2005.

Johansson grows olives and operates an olive oil company in Oroville. He was first elected to statewide CFBF office in 2009 after serving as a vice president of the Butte County Farm Bureau.

Delegates also elected two new members to the CFBF Board of Directors: Mark McBroom of Calipatria will represent Imperial and San Diego counties, and John Ellis of Hanford will represent Kern and Kings counties.

Butte County Farm Bureau member Stacy Gore of Nelson was elected the new chairman of the CFBF Rural Health and Safety Committee.

Kevin Robertson of Hanford was elected to chair the statewide Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.